Every Thanksgiving table needs a heaping mountain of savory stuffing (or “dressing” in some parts)! Prepare this to stuff or as a side to your roasted turkey Everyone will be thankful you didn't invest the time and money on a dry stuffing mix with stale dried bread and flavor packets. You owe it to yourself and your family this Thanksgiving- they will consume this stuffing, so make plenty!!

• One 8” round loaf of sourdough bread, 1-2 days old (For gluten free diets- Use 6 cups of preferred gluten-free bread)

• 12-15 Ritz crackers, crushed 

• 1 cup sweetened dried cranberries

• 1 medium apple, peeled, cored and chopped

• 1/2 cup Vidalia onion, diced

• 1/2 cup pecans, chopped

• 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped

• 2 TBSN fresh sage, finely chopped

• 2 TBSN fresh rosemary, finely chopped

• 2 TBSN fresh thyme, chopped

• 1 cup chardonnay wine

• 4 TBSN unsalted butter (1 stick) (Vegans- use preferred vegan-friendly butter)

• 2 cups chicken stock  (Vegans- use vegetable stock)

• 2 eggs, whipped (Vegans- use preferred egg alternative for baking)

Medium mixing bowl, 2 baking sheets, mixing spoon, measuring spoons, aluminum foil, ladle, measuring cups, 9 x 13 casserole pan, cooking spray, medium stove pot 

Prep: 30 minutes 

Cook: 60 minutes in oven   Ready: 90 minutes

Serves: 6-8

Before you handle any food, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Clean your kitchen work area and pull back your hair or wear a cap. You want to avoid contaminating your meal with harmful bacteria that could cause food illness.  

To make Cranberry & Pecan Stuffing:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Tear small bite-sized pieces of the whole sourdough loaf of bread. 

3. Spread out the small sourdough bread pieces on 2 baking sheets. 

TIP: Let bread sit out for a few hours to harden. You don’t want to use soft, fresh bread. 

4. Bake bread pieces for 15-20 minutes, stirring bread halfway through cooking time. Cook until slightly toasted, but not browned. 

5. Use cooking spray to coat 9x13-inch casserole dish. 

6. Place toasted bread cubes into casserole pan.  Sprinkle crushed Ritz crackers over the bread pieces. Set aside. 

7. In a medium pot over medium heat, melt butter and sauté chopped onion. Cook through, but do not brown. Cook until translucent. 

8. Add pecans, cranberries, and all chopped herbs to the pot. Cook 2 minutes, stirring frequently. 

9. Add Chardonnay and chicken stock. Bring to boil for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool for five minutes. 

10. Add the whipped eggs to the pot and whisk to combine. Pour over bread pieces in Casserole pan. Toss gently until all dry bread and cracker pieces are dampened with the chicken stock mixture.  11. Cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes.  

TIP: You can also keep in fridge overnight to bake the next morning. 

12. Remove foil and gently toss stuffing. Bake uncovered for 15 minutes.  

13. Let sit uncovered for 5 minutes. Serve hot.  

3/4 cup serving: 200 calories, 2 g fat (4 g saturated fat), 330 mg cholesterol, 600 mg sodium, 35 g carbohydrate (3 g sugars, 2 g fiber), 5 g protein. 

Cranberries can help prevent urinary tract infections. That’s because cranberries are loaded with an antioxidant called proanthocyanidins, or PACs for short.

They can improve your digestion. Fiber is great for overall gut health, and cranberries are packed with it—one cup has about 4.6 grams of fiber, Graham says. Plus, fiber keeps you fuller longer, which means you’re less likely to reach for a not-so-healthy snack.

They may reduce bad cholesterol. Research is also suggesting that regular consumption of low-calorie cranberry juice can reduce LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol and triglycerides, another component of cholesterol. 

They can help prevent gum disease. The urinary tract isn’t the only place these anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory antioxidants work their magic. Preliminary studies show that cranberries can help reduce bacteria’s ability to stick and grow in the oral cavity and limit gum disease, in the same way as they do with UTIs.

They could boost your immune system. When you feel the sniffles coming on, you might reach for some good old orange juice to load up on vitamin C and give your immune system a boost. But cranberries are actually high in the essential nutrient as well. So if you’re feeling under the weather, load up on cranberries to help your body fight back. 

Non-buttery Chardonnay with just a kiss of oak. 

Need DINNER MUSIC?

Check out our Playlists on YouTube for perfectly themed music to set the ambiance of your meal!

Cajun Voodoo Stuffing 

Follow recipe and replace cranberries with spicy crumbled cooked sausage. Replace Chardonnay with 1 bottle dark voodoo beer and replace butter herb rub with Voodoo Dust- See recipe post for Voodoo Chicken Wings.

Sausage, Pecan & Cranberry Stuffing 

Follow recipe and add 1/2 cup of crumbled sausage with onion. Do not drain residual sausage fat and mix with chicken stock.